Guidewire exit tool

ABSTRACT

A guidewire exit tool includes a pin that is insertable into a guidewire channel of a rapid exchange-type catheter. The pin has at least one tapered end that urges a guidewire out of a slit in guidewire channel. In one embodiment the exit tool has an oval handle that is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pin such that the tool can be easily grasped and moved along the guidewire channel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to medical devices in general, andin particular to rapid exchange-type catheters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] As an alternative to invasive-type surgeries whereby a physiciancreates an incision to access a desired location in the patient's body,many minimally invasive surgeries and in vivo examinations are beingperformed using catheters that are inserted into a patient's body. Witha catheter in place, medical devices are routed through a lumen in thecatheter in order to obtain tissue samples, perform a surgical procedureor diagnose tissue in a patient's body.

[0003] To insert a catheter, many physicians first use a guidewire thatis routed to a desired location in the patient's body. The guidewirethen acts as a rail over which catheters or other medical devices can beeasily routed to the desired location.

[0004]FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional guidewire and rapidexchange-type catheter. A catheter 10 includes a working lumen 12through which a medical device can be inserted, and a guidewire lumen 14through which a guidewire 18 is passed. The catheter 10 can be threadedover the guidewire 18 by inserting the proximal end of the guidewireinto the distal end of the guidewire lumen 14. Alternatively, the distalend of the guidewire 18 can be inserted into the proximal end of thelumen 14 by threading it through an introducer 20 at the proximal end ofthe catheter. The introducer 20 acts as a funnel to guide the distal tipof the guidewire into the guidewire lumen 14.

[0005] In some instances, it is desirable to exchange the catheter 10for another catheter while leaving the guidewire 18 in place. In orderto avoid removing the guidewire 18, the proximal end of the guidewire isheld stationary while the catheter 10 is removed. If a conventionalcatheter is used, the guidewire must be substantially longer than thecatheter, in order to pull the catheter off the guidewire. Such longguidewires may be unwieldy in the operating room.

[0006] To reduce the need for such long guidewires, many cathetersinclude a rapid exchange-type feature whereby the majority of guidewirelumen 14 is formed as a channel 16 having a slit that extends along alength of the catheter 10. The catheter can be removed from theguidewire by pulling the guidewire through the slit in channel 16 up tothe point where the channel becomes an enclosed lumen towards the distalend of the catheter. The remaining distal section of the guidewire lumencan then be pulled over the proximal end of the guidewire. Rapidexchange-type catheters and their use are considered to be well known tothose of ordinary skill in the medical device arts.

[0007] In order to remove a guidewire from a rapid exchange-typecatheter when backloading, the proximal end of the guidewire is forcedthrough the slit in guidewire channel 16. This is typically accomplishedby bending the catheter 10 in the region of the proximal end of theguidewire such that the proximal tip pokes through the slit in thechannel 16. Many modern guidewires include tips of differingflexibilities at their proximal and distal ends, thereby giving thephysician the option of adjusting the flexibility depending on which endof the guidewire is inserted into the patient. However, such flexibletips are difficult to use with rapid exchange-type catheters becausethey are not stiff enough to be forced through the slit in the channel16 without severely bending and possibly kinking the catheter.Therefore, there is a need for a technique to use rapid exchange-typecatheters with guidewires having flexible proximal ends.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] To address the problems discussed above, the present invention isa tool for urging a guidewire out of a guidewire channel of a rapidexchange-type catheter. The tool includes a handle and a pin that fitswithin the guidewire channel. One end of the pin may be tapered toengage and lift the proximal end of a guidewire out of a slot in theguidewire channel.

[0009] In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the handle is anoval disk having a center depression and an annular ring around theperimeter of the disk. The oval has a major axis that is angled withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the pin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages ofthis invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomebetter understood by reference to the following detailed description,when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0011]FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional rapid exchange-type catheter andguidewire;

[0012]FIG. 2 illustrates a catheter and a guidewire exit tool inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a guidewire exit tool in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a guidewire exit tool inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of a guidewire exit tool inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a guidewire exit tool inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a guidewire exit tool in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a guidewire exit tool in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] As best shown in FIG. 3, the present invention is a guidewireexit tool 30 that aids in retrieving the proximal end of a guidewirefrom a guidewire channel in a rapid exchange-type catheter. Theguidewire exit tool has a handle 32 for grasping the tool and a pin 34that is insertable into the guidewire channel 16. The pin 34 is securedto the handle 32 by a web or “rib” 38. One end of the pin 34 may includea tapered point 36. As shown in FIG. 2, the diameter of the pin 34 isselected to fit within the guidewire channel 16 but is larger than thewidth of the slit in the channel 16. Movement of the pin 34 with respectto the proximal end of the guidewire 18 causes the tapered point 36 toengage the proximal end of the guidewire 18 and lift it out of thechannel 16 so that it can be grasped by a physician. The guidewire exittool 30 can be moved against the guidewire 18 or the guidewire 18 can bemoved against the guidewire exit tool 30 in order to push the proximalend of the guidewire through the slit in the channel 16.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of one design of a guidewireexit tool according to the present invention. In this design, the handle32 comprises an oval disk having a central depression 40 on either sideof the disk and a raised annular ring 42 around the perimeter of thehandle. The major axis of the oval disk is oriented at approximately 30°to the longitudinal axis of the pin 34. The orientation of the disk anddepressions within the handle 32 form an ergometric grip that is easilygrasped by the thumb and forefinger of a user for movement within aguidewire channel. The other side of the guidewire exit tool is the sameas shown in FIG. 4.

[0021] The guidewire exit tool 30 can be injection molded ofthermoplastic or other materials.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the design of the guidewireexit tool 30, and FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the design ofthe guidewire exit tool 30.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 6, the pin 34 has a diameter that is slightlywider than the diameter of the flexible web 38 that holds the pin 34 tothe handle 32. The width of the web 38 is designed to fit through a slitin the channel 16 of the catheter 10. The diameter of the pin 34 isslightly wider than the slit in the channel 16 such that the guidewireexit tool cannot be easily pulled out of the guidewire channel throughthe slit.

[0024]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the design of the guidewire exit toolin accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a bottom planview of the design of the guidewire exit tool according to the presentinvention.

[0025] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changescan be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.For example, a guidewire exit tool could have a conventional handle or ahandle with a differently shaped ergonomic grip. It is thereforeintended that the scope of the invention be determined from thefollowing claims and equivalents thereof.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A guidewire exit tool,comprising: a handle; and a pin secured to the handle and having adiameter that fits within a guidewire channel of a rapid exchange-typecatheter, wherein the pin engages a guidewire and lifts an end of theguidewire out of a guidewire channel.
 2. The guidewire exit tool ofclaim 1, wherein the pin has a tapered end that engages a guidewire. 3.The guidewire exit tool of claim 1, wherein the pin is secured to thehandle with a web, the web having a thickness that is less than thediameter of the pin.
 4. The guidewire exit tool of claim 1, wherein thehandle is oval in shape.
 5. The guidewire exit tool of claim 4, whereinthe oval handle has an axis that is angled with respect to alongitudinal axis of the pin.
 6. The guidewire exit tool of claim 4,wherein the handle has a recessed center and a raised annular rim. 7.The guidewire tool of claim 6, wherein the handle has opposing recesseson each side of the handle.
 8. A method of using a guidewire with arapid exchange-type catheter, comprising: loading a guidewire into aguidewire channel of a rapid exchange-type catheter; engaging a proximalend of the guidewire with a guidewire exit tool to lift a proximal endof the guidewire out of the guidewire channel, the guidewire exit toolincluding: a handle; and a pin secured to the handle, wherein the pin isinsertable into the guidewire channel to engage the proximal end of aguidewire and lift the guidewire out of the guidewire channel.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the pin has a tapered end that engages theguidewire.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the proximal end of theguidewire engages with the guidewire exit tool by sliding the guidewireexit tool in the guidewire channel.
 11. The method of claim 7, whereinthe proximal end of the guidewire engages with the guidewire exit toolby sliding the guidewire against the guidewire exit tool.